FAA Okays Honeywell's Hawker DEECs

The Raytheon Hawker 800's TFE731-5 turbofan engines can be fitted with set-and-forget, digital electronic engine controls, now that Honeywell has received FAA approval for the upgrade. The new DEECs are virtual plug-and-play changes for the aircraft's existing analog electrical controls and they greatly reduce pilot workload. On takeoff, for example, the crew can push the thrust levers all the way to the forward stops and the DEECs will set the proper thrust because they are fan speed referenced. Once the thrust levers are pulled back to climb thrust, the DEECs maintain the proper thrust levels with no need for adjustment.

Maintenance costs also should be reduced with the new DEECs because they provide exceedance protection and trend monitoring used for wear analysis.

Best of all, the DEECs can be fitted at no charge during a compressor zone inspection, if the engines are covered by Honeywell's maintenance service plan.